Reforms to the Music Festivals Act
In 2024, the Music Festivals Act 2019 was amended. Important changes were made to the regulation of music festivals in NSW to further support a thriving and safe sector.
To see what has changed, please visit Support for the music festivals sector.
12 months before your festival
Speak with the local council where the festival will take place.
You may need to submit applications or plans such as:
- a development application (DA)
- emergency or traffic management plans
- food safety documentation.
4 to 6 months before the festival
Organisers must lodge an early notification form at least 120 days before the festival start date.
All festivals must operate with a health and medical plan. Some must also be sent to NSW Health for agreement.
For advice on how to make your music festival safer, you can contact NSW Health by email moh-musicfestivals@health.nsw.gov.au
Find out more about the HMP process.
In addition to a health and medical plan, you may need to develop plans. For example, a site plan, security plan, or alcohol management plan.
You should engage the Local Health District of the proposed venue
Find the contact information for your Local Health District.
Your event may require User Pays Ambulance.
For contact details and more information, visit NSW Health.
If security will be at your festival, the security licensee will need to maintain a security incident register.
Learn how to prepare a security incident register.
Your event may require a User Pays agreement to help keep attendees safe.
To find contact details, visit local police districts.
SafeWork NSW will help you meet your workplace health and safety requirements.
Learn how to manage the health and safety of workers, volunteers and the public by reading:
For more information, visit SafeWork NSW.
1 to 2 months before the festival
If liquor will be sold, served, or supplied at your festival – you will need to apply or notify L&GNSW at least 28 days prior.
The L&GNSW website outlines requirements of limited licence applications and catering notifications.
Stakeholder briefings
Briefings with stakeholders involved in the event should occur before, during, and after your festival.
The NSW Health Guidelines outline recommendations for health-related briefings:
- keep in touch with local agencies, including council, police and health
- share drafts of your safety plans for feedback
- document all meetings, decisions and actions
- assign someone to lead communications with stakeholders.
This helps you avoid delays and make sure everyone is ready.
Health and medical planning for music festivals
All music festival organisers must prepare a Health and Medical Plan (HMP). This helps keep attendees safe and ensures the right services are available if someone needs help.
If required, organisers must submit their HMP to NSW Health for agreement which is referred to as an ‘agreed HMP’.
Whether this is required is determined by the Secretary, DCITHS following a review of information provided in the early notification form and submissions from NSW Health, NSW Police, the Music Festivals Roundtable, and the organiser.
L&GNSW have prepared an indicative timeline of the health and medical plan process.
Your Health and Medical Plan should outline:
- onsite first aid services
- locations of first aid stations and medical tents
- qualifications of health staff
- how you will manage drug and alcohol-related risks
- consultation with and contact details for Health services including NSW Ambulance, local hospital/s, private medical providers, and Local Health District of the proposed venue
- accessibility and inclusion (for example, wheelchair access and quiet spaces)
- any other requirements in the Guidelines for Music Festival Event Organisers.
Submit your Health and Medical Plan to NSW Health for review.
If required, NSW Health may request amendments to plans to ensure potential risks are appropriately managed.
If you wish to make changes to your plans, you should advise NSW Health as soon as possible.
Please see below contact details and resources:
- Contact NSW Health events planning by email
moh-musicfestivals@health.nsw.gov.au - NSW Health
- HMP template
- NSW Health Guidelines for Music Festival Organisers.
Law Enforcement and Safety Schedule
If you are required to have an agreed HMP, NSW Police may propose a Law Enforcement and Safety Schedule (Schedule). This may include conditions or plans to address gaps not covered by the HMP or another regulatory mechanism.
If a proposal is received, the Secretary, DCITHS will consider submissions from NSW Police and the organiser to determine whether a Schedule is required.
L&GNSW will notify you if a Schedule is required and, if so, what must be included.
As each festival is different, there is no prescribed list of what a Schedule must contain. Plans should address safety concerns relating to, for example:
- liquor management
- crowd control
- security
- traffic plans.
L&GNSW have prepared an indicative timeline of the law enforcement and safety schedule process.
L&GNSW will advise the due date for your Schedule. You should submit your Schedule no later than this date by emailing the L&GNSW music festivals team.
If you wish to make changes to your plans, you should advise L&GNSW and NSW Police as soon as possible.